Phoenicians and Greeks: Spread of Trade-based Complex Society in the Mediterranean Sea, 1600-500 BCE

*Mycenae Greece, 1600-1200 BCE

Complex society

Urban living

Social stratification

Writing in Linear B

*Greek "Dark Age," 1200-800 BCE

Fall of Mycenae, 1200 BCE

International System Ends, 1250 B.C.E.

Small farming communities

Cities abandoned

Writing (Linear B) lost

*Phoenicia (Lebanon) Complex Society, 900-202 BCE

Writing system

Semitic language

Sinai prototypes in Middle Kingdom Egypt, 1800 BCE

Semitic workers

Egyptian hieroglyphics used phonetically

Phoenicia (Lebanon), 900-202 BCE

Alphabet, 1050 BCE

22 consonants

Nautical technology

Trireme

Phoenician warship in Assyrian relief, 700 BCE

Cargo vessel

*Trade-based complex society

Mediterranean transportation

Trade networks

Mother city and colonies

Amphora from shipwreck, 700 BCE

Influences in Reviving Greek Complex Society

Phoenician Influences in Reviving Greek Complex Society, 800-500 BCE

Ship technology

Trireme

Cargo ship

Cargo and war ships painted on Greek bowl, 6th c. BCE

*Trade-based complex society

Trade networks

Mother city and colonies

Greek Alphabet, 800-700 BCE

24 consonants and vowels

Egyptian influences on sculpture

Influences of Geography, Climate, Resources on Greek Complex Society

Mediterranean climate

Hot dry summers

Mild damp winters

Divided Landscape

Mountains

Islands

Lagkadia, Peloponnese (below)

Vikos gorge, Ioanina (below)

Lefkada (below)

Political Division into City-states

Geographical barriers

Mountains and islands

Agriculture

No major rivers

Only 20% arable land

Olive trees & grapes vines in highlands

Barley in valleys

Olive trees (below)

Major Resources

Sea

Fish

Transportation

Greek Trade-based complex society, 800-500 BCE

Migration from mother city to colonies

Reasons? Think about geography, climate and resources

1) Lack of arable land and irrigation

2) The attraction of trade

Imports: grain, metals

Exports

Crafts

Fine pottery

Processed food in amphorae

Olive oil

Wine 

Recently discovered shipwreck

Invention of Money and Coins

Lydia 600 BCE

China 6th c. BCE

Commodity money

Silver & barley

Widely available/Easily divided/Resist decay

Coins

Guarantee weight and purity of metal

Lecture Study Questions

1. What signs of complex society have archaeological excavations of Mycenae sites in Greece revealed? Why does the example of the Greek "Dark Age" demonstrate that complex society could be difficult to maintain?

2. What elements of Phoenician complex society influenced the revival of ancient Greek complex society in the period from 800-500 BCE?

3. How did the Phoenicians adapt Egyptian hieroglyphics to develop a new writing system? Why was their writing system an improvements over the earlier ones of Mesopotamia and Egypt?

4. How did geography influence the division of ancient Greece into independent city-states? Why did Greek climate and resources encourage the development of trade-based complex society?
 

Reading Study Questions

Reading: Hansen, et al., 155, 158-163

1. Compare and contrast Phoenician and Greek trade and colonization in the Mediterranean.

2. What cultural elements did Greek city-states share?

Supplementary Reading on D2L>Content:

Reading: 09) “When the Ancient Greeks Began to Write”

1. How were words formed in the earliest Mycenaean Greek writing system of Linear B around 1450 BCE? What was the purpose of this writing system? Why did it die out around 1100 BCE?

2. How did the Greeks adapt the Phoenician alphabet to create a new writing system around 800 BCE? What are the earliest types of Greek writing that archaeologist have discovered at the ancient sites of Eretria and its colonies at Methone and Pithekoussai (Naples)? Give examples.

3. What theory has University of Wisconsin classicist, Barry Powell, developed to explain the origins of Greek writing? Do you find his theory to be plausible? Why or why not?